BRIDE Laura McGuffie finally walked down the aisle with the man she loves - a year after their wedding was cancelled following a car crash which left her in a coma.

BRIDE Laura McGuffie finally walked down the aisle with the man she loves - a year after their wedding was cancelled following a car crash which left her in a coma.

The 27-year-old beamed with happiness as she and Darren Fitzgibbon celebrated the marriage their families feared would never happen.

The couple had been due to marry last May but disaster struck.

Laura skidded on black ice while driving her Fiat Punto and hit a lamppost, suffering severe head injuries and smashing her nose, both cheekbones, jaw and two ribs.

Laura was unconscious for four days on a life-support machine at Whiston Hospital and the wedding was cancelled.

But the couple finally tied the knot 12 months later after the bride battled her injuries to marry the man she loves.

Laura, from Halewood, said: "My wedding was the happiest day of my life.

"After everything my family and I have been through, it was a dream come true.

"I'm so happy to be married to Darren and we can now look forward to our future together."

Laura, a former logistical planner for a drugs company, said: "I don't remember what happened the night of the crash.

"All I remember is waking up in hospital after the coma, with Darren and my family around me."

Laura was later transferred to the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, Rathbone hospital, Edge Lane, for seven weeks. Doctors advised Laura and Darren to cancel the wedding.

Laura said: "The doctors told me my brain injury meant I would probably not remember much of the wedding and I would not have the stamina to last the day. Although we were disappointed, the wedding had to be cancelled."

Darren, 29, a traffic signal engineer, said: "I never doubted for one moment Laura would become my wife.

"I am the luckiest man in the world and I love her very much."

The wedding took place at St Bernadette's Church, Allerton, before a reception at The Marriott hotel, Speke, with more than 150 guests.

They then flew to Mexico on honeymoon.

Laura is still recovering from the accident and attends Rathbone hospital as an out-patient.

She said: "I was extremely lucky not to have been killed and I have my doctors, Darren, parents, family and friends to thank for getting me through."